New Year’s Resolutions Aren’t Just for Your Employees

Many companies claim to be great places to work. But if you were to ask those on the inside, the reality is quite different. In the process of doing business, something (or should we say someone?) gets neglected: employees. People sometimes feel unnoticed or left questioning whether they have a future at the organization.

As we welcome in the New Year, the time couldn’t be better for employers to set some resolutions around retention and recruitment. After all, employees are busy making a few of their own, and one resolution in particular could have quite an impact on business. Sixty-two percent of workers made plans last year to change their professional lives, and those changes included both finding a new job and embarking on a new career.

The point is, you have an opportunity to make sure your best employees don’t follow through on these resolutions by resolving to set your own. And the following cultural shifts can often help ensure that your company gets off to an even better start this upcoming year:

1. Resolve to challenge employees.

Chances are, your best employees want to remain challenged by their work. Review the responsibilities of your most treasured associates and make sure you’re providing them enough opportunities to grow in their careers. When people begin to feel like they’re no longer moving upward, you run the risk of them moving onward. If you are not in a position to promote, look for opportunities to engage employees in task forces and other special projects.

2. Resolve to believe in the potential of others.

Your authority puts you in the unique position to influence how employees see themselves. And if you express your belief in the potential of their success, they’ll often meet — if not exceed — your expectations. As you challenge your employees, make sure you remind them why you believe they can do it.

3. Resolve to develop their potential.

People perform best in workplaces conducive to growth. In fact, your best employees will want to improve their knowledge and skills. Sit down with each member of your team to develop plans to help them to grow this year. Just make sure to always include them in the process, so they feel in control of their futures.

4. Resolve to offer your support.

Employees will go the extra mile for leaders who’ve got their backs. Make sure your staff understands that failure is inevitable and a necessary part of growth. If they make a mistake, don’t be overcritical. Instead, stress that it’s another opportunity to learn and that you still see great things for them in the future.

5. Resolve to offer more feedback.

Leadership often gets so caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities and forgets to offer enough feedback to employees. Feedback being one of the strongest tools to get better results; you’re actually doing your company a disservice by staying silent. Constructive feedback can be a positive motivator for employees.

6. Resolve to share your mission.

Startups often have the luxury of a staff that’s not just connected to but inspired by the company’s mission. As an organization grows, that mission can get further removed from those who make it possible. Communicate to each team member how his or her role contributes to achieving the company’s goals.

7. Resolve to embrace differences.

Diversity in the workplace is great, but it won’t do your company much good if everyone feels the need to conform to some arbitrary norm. Take a real look at what it takes to succeed in each role, and guarantee that success is about talent and skill — not the ability to just go with the flow.

8. Resolve to foster a work-life balance.

Many people don’t use their vacation — nor do they take evenings or full weekends off. The reason? They don’t feel like their workload allows it. If you make sure employees take advantage of all the benefits that come with employment, they’ll be much more rested, productive, and less likely to burn out.

9. Resolve to recognize and reward.

If you’re not in the habit of recognizing people for their efforts, now’s the year to start. Use a team meeting or group email to thank a team member for a job well done. But don’t stop there; reward those who succeed by giving more autonomy over how they get their jobs done.

10. Resolve to compensate.

Many employers operate under the assumption that pay doesn’t matter — as long as the workplace offers their employees plenty of perks. Pay matters more today than ever. By keeping pay ranges competitive, you’ll put your company in a much stronger position to retain and attract prized talent.

It’s a proven fact that happy employees are more simply productive than those just satisfied with their jobs. And along with this increased productivity, a happy workplace can often lead to greater job satisfaction, higher engagement, and less absenteeism — which, in turn, can result in higher profits for your company. So, really, your New Year’s resolution to improve culture impacts you (and your business) most of all.

We’re here to help with any staffing-related New Year’s resolutions you may have. Connect with us today to see how we can help make 2018 your best year yet!

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